Requests for Corrections

A citizen may apply for a correction to their bill by completing the Street Maintenance Fee (SMF) Correction/Appeal Request Form and either submitting it electronically to the Utility Business Office (UBO) or printing it and bringing it to the UBO at City Hall. The form is also available for pickup at City Hall (1201 Leopard St.). All requests for corrections to the SMF charge will be researched and verified. Corrections will appear on the customer’s bill if approved. However, customers are required to pay their billed SMF until such time as a correction is approved and applied. Refunds or credits will be applied for incorrect charges already paid.

Inside City Limits vs. Outside City Limits

The SMF is charged only to properties which are inside City Limits. If a citizen receives a SMF bill and believes their property is outside City Limits, they may request a correction.

Occupied or Used vs. Vacant Property

Property which is not occupied by anyone and is not being used by anyone will be treated as an inactive account and will not be billed. Typically for these properties the existing city utilities are inactive. Sometimes, however, a utility account is kept active. If a customer receives a SMF bill on vacant, unused property, they may request a correction to their bill.

Number of Water Meters

Some Non-residential properties may have multiple meters. Because the square footage cap for Non-residential properties is applied on a per meter basis, the number of water meters associated with the property can have an impact on the SMF charge. Multi-meter Non-residential properties may request a correction if the customer believes the number of water meters is incorrect.

Number of Dwelling Units

Multi-family residential properties are billed on a per dwelling unit basis. The total number of dwelling units is typically assigned to one water meter for those locations where dwelling units are not individually metered. The City has used its best records for assigning total dwelling unit count. Multi-family residential properties which are not individually metered may request a correction to the dwelling unit count if the customer believes the total dwelling unit count is incorrect. However, certified documentation from a Texas Registered Design Professional to include an engineer, architect or land surveyor which documents the correct count will need to be provided with the request.

Adjacent Property Corrections

Adjacent Property refers to property which does not currently get charged City utilities, has the same owner as a property next to the adjacent property, and appears to be used by the neighboring utility account holder.

If a utility account customer receives a SMF bill for adjacent property and that property is being used by another entity, then the utility customer may request a correction to their bill. They should provide the name and contact information for the actual user if possible in order that the SMF can be charged to the correct entity.

If a utility account customer receives a SMF bill for adjacent property that is vacant and is not being used by anyone, then the utility account customer may request a correction.

Street Fee Only Account Corrections

Some properties do not receive any billable City services yet are eligible to be charged the SMF. In most situations, water and waste water services may be provided by another entity and solid waste services may be provided by a commercial service. Properties of this nature will receive a SMF bill from the City. If a tenant is using the property, a property owner may request that the SMF account be placed in the tenant’s name. The property owner will need to provide tenant information to the City in order for the correction to be made.